The Los Angeles Rams entered the year as clear Super Bowl favorites but have stumbled to a 1-2 start, placing them near the bottom of the early-season standings. While The Athletic still gives them roughly a 70% chance to make the playoffs (and sportsbooks list them around -250 to reach the postseason), the Bills have overtaken them as the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl.
L.A.’s rocky beginning has been conspicuous. The team mishandled travel to Australia and was thumped by the 49ers, then blew a 16-0 lead in Denver before a controversial defensive pass-interference call helped determine the outcome. Coach Sean McVay, who apologized for cutting his postgame availability short in Denver, remained upbeat, praising the group’s resilience and urging them to lean into the adversity as a growth opportunity.
That optimism notwithstanding, there are reasons to worry. I initially forecasted the Rams would miss the postseason, later softening that view after they acquired Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald decided to return. The concerns — an aging roster anchored by a 38-year-old quarterback coming off a career year, likely regression, and one of the league’s toughest travel- and opponent-laden schedules — still stand.
Matthew Stafford’s grimace after throwing an interception and trying to stop Denver safety Talanoa Hufanga recalled the team’s post-Super Bowl wobble when Stafford missed significant time with a back injury and the Rams fell to 5-12. Stafford downplayed a sore elbow after the game, but his on-field play has shown signs of decline from last season’s MVP-caliber numbers. In 2025 he led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, finishing second in passer rating (109.2) with just eight interceptions. Through three games this year he ranks third in passing yards (872), is tied for ninth in touchdowns (6), and his passer rating has dipped to 88.1, with four interceptions — among the highest totals early in the season.
Stafford has particularly struggled under pressure: this year he’s 13-of-36 for 171 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions when pressured, has been sacked five times in those moments, and carries a 28.8 passer rating in that split. By contrast, during last year’s MVP run he completed 84-of-155 pressured throws (54.2%) for 1,040 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions, producing an 86.0 passer rating in those situations.
Age and injuries are beginning to bite. The Rams have the NFL’s fourth-oldest roster; Garrett (30) lasted only one game before landing on injured reserve for a knee issue and will miss at least a few more contests. New cornerback Jaylen Watson exited the Denver game with a shoulder problem and is expected to miss the trip to Philadelphia. Young playmakers aren’t immune either: star receiver Puka Nacua has missed two games with a groin injury and could face surgery if it doesn’t heal, and second-year tight end Terrance Ferguson is expected to miss time with an ankle injury. Six Rams are currently on IR, with others potentially joining that list.
Their early slate doesn’t help: after Denver they travel to a Philly venue that’s been unkind (1-5 there since 2002), then host Buffalo — a stretch that could leave them 1-4 before a Week 6 matchup with the Cardinals. The schedule eases somewhat in November, but the Rams still finish October against the Raiders and close the season facing the Chiefs, Seahawks (twice), and 49ers.
McVay insists tough starts forge stronger teams, calling this a chance to respond, be solution-oriented and prove themselves rather than just talk.
Separately, the article revisits the Chiefs–Raiders rivalry, with Hall of Famer Will Shields reflecting on the old battles and what the matchup means. For the first time since the teams’ long history, both Kansas City and Las Vegas have started 3-0, making Sunday’s clash a meaningful early test for the Raiders’ surprising surge under Klint Kubiak and veteran QB Kirk Cousins, and for the Chiefs’ revival led in part by Kenneth Walker III. Raiders great Michael Haynes remembered yearly chess matches against Kansas City, and current edge rusher Maxx Crosby called the matchup “war,” noting he’s recorded more sacks of Patrick Mahomes than any other player.
In other AFC West and nearby notes: Chargers rookie safety Genesis Smith turned heads with two interceptions vs. Buffalo and is one of four Arizona defensive backs drafted this year — a rare schoolwide feat. Scouts praise Smith’s athleticism, size and range, while noting his tackling can improve. A brief West-side power ranking puts Denver at No. 5 (Bo Nix’s clutch late-game work), the Raiders at No. 4 (with linebacker Nakobe Dean leading tackles but fumbling), Seattle at No. 3 (Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s hot start despite Sam Darnold’s turnover issues), the 49ers at No. 2 (Brock Purdy playing at an elite level amid receiver injuries), and the Chiefs atop the list (a balanced offense with Kenneth Walker’s strong start and an improved defense).
Fan Take: This matters because how the Rams handle aging stars, injuries and a brutal early schedule will shape playoff races and coaching narratives across the league — teams built for a quick title push can collapse fast. For fans, it’s a reminder that offseason hype can evaporate quickly and that depth, health and adaptability increasingly determine which teams stay contenders in today’s NFL.
Source: www.foxsports.com
